Device and method for dispensing a good or offering a service and a suitable system herefor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method are provided for the dispensing of a good and/or the release of a service and a suitable system therefor, which allows dispensing the goods and/or releasing the service in a simplified manner by the apparatus having a GSM cell of a network operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the dispensing of agood and/or for the release of a service and a suitable system herefor.

Dispensing machines are installed in public areas worldwide in largenumbers which, for example, allow customers or users to obtainbeverages, candies and similar after inserting coins. In contrast, as arule the payment of the service in the gastronomic sector takes place incash, whereas credit cards are also frequently used.

In the sector of dispensing machines, there have already been sometrials of cooperation between telecommunications operators or mobiletelephony operators and dispensing machine operators in the past. Thedispensing of a good here takes place by calling a specific telephonenumber, preferably clearly recognizable on the dispensing machine,whereby the triggering mechanism for the good is activated. The mobiletelephony operator or the network operator here takes care of thebilling and the collection risk for the dispensing machine operator. Inreturn for this, the dispensing machine operator profits from a reducedcash float and from the passing on of the collection risk. In addition,the risk of vandalism and the money transport effort is substantiallyreduced by the reduced use of cash.

In summary, however, the use of the conventional system means that themobile telephone party or user standing in front of the dispensingmachine must dial a specific telephone number which is preferablywritten on the automat and which may be different with respect to thedifferent goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to further develop anapparatus, a method or a system such that the dispensing of the goods orthe release of the service is simplified for the user and cannevertheless provide a secured payment system.

In accordance with the application, an apparatus for dispensing a goodor for releasing a service is fitted with a GSM cell of a networkoperator. The advantage is achieved with this measure that the mobiletelephone units which are more and more widespread today can be used toobtain a further usability possibility. Since, for example, theapparatus in accordance with the application is provided with a GSM cellof a network operator, the apparatus in accordance with the applicationis put into a position to recognize a mobile telephone unit and thus touse the data stored in the mobile telephone unit for a payment. The usermust thus only bring the mobile telephone unit into the vicinity of theapparatus in order, for example, to come into enjoyment of a good or ofa service. In this manner, the user is, for example, saved a complicatedconventional dialling procedure and the user does not have to carry outany further actions except for the pressing of the good selection buttonand the bringing near of a mobile telephone unit.

Further advantageous aspects of the present subject matter are disclosedherein.

If the GSM cell works self-sufficiently, i.e., if it is not necessary tohave a constant contact to a radio cell, then it is possible to operatethe apparatus independent of the location.

If the GSM cell is switched parallel to the coin slot, then a simpleretrofitting of existing apparatuses is possible in this manner.

If the GSM cell is connected via a telemetry GSM terminal to the networkoperator, then a wireless transmission of the user data required for thepayment is made possible in this manner.

If the apparatus has an opening, which preferably has a proximityswitch, then it is achieved with this measure that only those usersreceive a good who deliberately bring their mobile telephone units intoa zone provided for this purpose, i.e., for example, an opening in theapparatus and a proximity switch provided for this purpose detects thisprocedure and thus possibly activates the GSM cell or also the wholedispensing machine from a stand-by state.

If in addition, a reading apparatus is provided, which reads specificparameters, for example the identity of the user and the time of use,then the transmission rate and/or the transmission volume is optimizedin this manner.

If the triggering of the goods or the release of the service is onlycarried out when the handover last provided is not carried out, then theadaptation problems with respect to the apparatus in accordance with theapplication are minimized since commercial GSM cells can be used to workin accordance with the application.

Further advantageous aspects of the present invention are describedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred aspect of the present invention should be represented withreference to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, the mechanical design of an apparatus 1 for the dispensing ofa good, a so-called dispensing machine, is represented. In thispreferred embodiment, an opening 3 is provided into which a mobiletelephone unit, for example a telephone, can be brought. The bringing inof the telephone is detected by a proximity switch 5 which, for example,emits a signal which activates the GMS cell designed as a so-called homebase station “HBS” and/or wakes up the whole dispensing machine from astand-by state. After, for example, the proximity switch detects thebringing in of the mobile telephone unit, the mobile telephone unitstarts to communicate with the HBS, with an exchange of data of the datapresent in the mobile telephone unit being carried out with the HBS.However, before the so-called handover takes place, which, for example,passes on the mobile telephone unit from one radio cell to the nextradio cell unnoticeably for the user in normal operation, the ejectionmechanism of the dispensing machine is activated. If the handover wereto take place, then the mobile telephone unit would, for example,disconnect from the network since the HBS works self-sufficiently, i.e.does not communicate with a radio cell.

As is furthermore represented in FIG. 1, the activation of the ejectionmechanism is, for example, switched in parallel with a coin slot 7 sothat conventional apparatuses can be retrofitted in a simple manner,conventional dispensing machines being able to work, on the other hand,conventionally via a coin slot.

For the simplified payment or direct payment, a telemetry GSM terminalis provided which is connected to the network operator via the GSM. Inthis manner, the data relevant for the bill can be transmitted and beinvoiced to the user within the framework of his normal mobile telephonebill or telephone bill.

For the better understanding, the procedure for the dispensing of thegood by means of an apparatus described above should be represented inthe following, with the procedure described being independent of thelocation since only a connection of the network operator via GSM isnecessary for the operation of the apparatus and thus only power and aGSM coverage must be present. To obtain a good from the dispensingmachine, the user, for example, initially presses a button for the goodto be selected. Optionally, this can also take place after the insertionof the terminal. Then the user holds the mobile telephone unit in theopening. The proximity switch switches on the HBS, with thisfunctionality, however, being optional. However, it serves both to savepower and for better radio engineering relationships outside theautomat. The mobile telephone unit detects the new GSM cell and tries tolog in, i.e. a handover as between normal radio cells is attempted asusual. Since the GSM cell equipped as an HBS is not, however, connectedto the actual GSM network, no handover can take place. The mobiletelephone unit continues to remain logged in to the network and incomingtransmissions to the mobile telephone unit or calls can take place.During the logging in procedure, the HBS receives information on theidentity of the mobile telephone unit and thus on the user. It is, forexample, also possible with this identification that the HBS controlswhether only mobile telephone units of its own network or foreign mobiletelephone units with corresponding SIM modules are accepted.

To transmit this information, the HBS must only be modified such thatafter it has been addressed by such a mobile telephone unit, thisinformation is transmitted to the telemetry terminal.

If, for example, different prices should be possible for differentgoods, then a coupling could take place to a keypad provided at thedispensing machine. After transmission of the information, for examplevia the telemetry terminal, a signal transmission takes place to theautomat which enables an ejection of the good.

It has been found to be advantageous for the telemetry terminal to takethe information and transmit it to the GSM network as a short message(SMS) since the transmission of the SMS includes error securityprotocols, i.e. makes available protection against transmission defectsand the usual GSM data security. Finally, the information are acceptedat the network side by a server which can modify the format of the datasuch that it corresponds to the format of roaming partners.

Radio engineering deliberations will be taken into account in thefollowing. The HBS, which is fitted to the interior of the dispensingmachine and which works per se with very low powers, is shielded to theoutside by the insertion opening which is as small as possible. Inaddition, the arm of the customer or of the user, which covers theopening when the terminal is introduced, provides an additional dampingor shielding.

An additional radio engineering damping or shielding can likewise beachieved when a fine-meshed chain curtain covers the insertion opening.

Furthermore, it is achieved by the proximity switch that the HBS is onlyactive when a customer inserts a terminal in order thus to avoid outwardradiation without an inserted terminal and an unwanted triggering isavoided which would result in an invoicing. However, the terminal isalways ready for operation during this time so that it always remainslogged in to the actual GMS radio cell.

It must be noted at this point that in addition to the dispensing ofgoods, the release of a service is also possible, i.e. in thegastronomic sector, payment can be made in that the restaurateur takesan apparatus in accordance with the application and the user only placesa mobile telephone unit onto a mobile apparatus and can thus set thepayment of the service in motion.

1. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release of aservice, comprising a GSM cell of a network operator structured andarranged for recognizing a moblile telephone unit which is located nearthe apparatus, and means for dispensing the good and/or releasing theservice after the apparatus has recognized the mobile telephone unit bysaid GSM cell.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterizedin that the GSM cell works self-sufficiently, avoiding constant contactor communication with a radio cell, whereby the apparatus can beoperated independently of location.
 3. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the GSM cell is switched parallel to a coin slot.
 4. Anapparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the GSM cell is connectedto the network operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.
 5. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein an opening (3) is provided in saidapparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.
 6. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein a reading apparatus is provided whichreads specific parameters.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,wherein the GSM cell has a low range.
 8. A method of dispensing a goodand/or releasing a service, comprising: a) making available an apparatuswhich includes a GSM cell and a good for dispensing; b) making availablea mobile telephone unit; c) bringing the mobile telephone unit near theapparatus; and d) triggering the good and/or releasing the service afterthe GSM cell has recognized the mobile telephone unit.
 9. A method inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the recognition of the mobile telephoneunit takes place by reading the user identity and the time of use.
 10. Amethod of dispensing a good and/or releasing a service, comprising: a)making available an apparatus which includes a GSM cell and a good fordispensing; b) making available a mobile telephone unit; c) bringing themobile telephone unit near the apparatus; and d) triggering the goodand/or releasing the service after the GSM cell has recognized themobile telephone unit, wherein the triggering of the good and/orreleasing the service takes place by holding the mobile telephone unitinto an opening of the apparatus.
 11. A method in accordance with claim8, wherein the triggering of the good and/or release of the servicetakes place in that handover made available by the network is notcarried out.
 12. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein a handtelephone is used as the mobile telephone unit.
 13. A system for thedispensing of a good, using the apparatus in accordance with claim 1 andcomprising a mobile telephone unit and a GSM cell provided in a goodsdispensing unit.
 14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe GSM cell is switched parallel to a coin slot.
 15. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the GSM cell is connected to thenetwork operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.
 16. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the GSM cell is connected to thenetwork operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.
 17. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 14, wherein the GSM cell is connected to thenetwork operator via a telemetry GSM terminal.
 18. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 2, wherein an opening (3) is provided in saidapparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.
 19. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 14, wherein an opening (3) is provided in saidapparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.
 20. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 17, wherein an opening (3) is provided in saidapparatus (1) to receive the mobile telephone unit.
 21. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 5, wherein the opening is provided with aproximity switch.
 22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, whereinthe specific parameters include identity of the user and time of use.23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein the opening isprovided with a proximity switch.
 24. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 19, wherein the opening is provided with a proximity switch. 25.An apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the opening isprovided with a proximity switch.
 26. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the mobile telephone unit is located in the GSM cell ofa vending machine, such that said apparatus is able to recognize themobile telephone unit and use data stored therein for telephone payment.27. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release ofa service, comprising a GSM cell of a network operator, and a mobiletelephone located in the GSM cell of a vending machine, such that saidapparatus is able to recognize the mobile telephone unit and use datastored therein for telephone payment and is structured and arranged suchthat a user need only bring the mobile telephone unit in a vicinity ofsaid apparatus and simply press a selection button on the mobiletelephone unit to obtain a good or service from said vending machine.28. An apparatus for the dispensing of a good and/or for the release ofa service, comprising a GSM cell of a network operator, and wherein saidapparatus is a dispensing machine (1), comprising an opening (3) intowhich a mobile telephone unit can be introduced, a proximity switch (5)arranged to detect the mobile telephone unit and emit a signalactivating the GSM cell structured and arranged as a home base station,thus activating the dispensing machine (1), ejection mechanism withinthe dispensing machine (1) being activated by the GSM cell, a coin slot(7) in the dispensing machine (1) structured and arranged to beactivated in parallel by the ejection mechanism, and a telemetry GSMterminal provided within the dispensing machine (1) and connected to thenetwork operator.
 29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, beingstructured and arranged such that a user need only bring the mobiletelephone unit in a vicinity of said apparatus and simply press aselection button on the mobile telephone unit to obtain a good orservice from said apparatus.
 30. An apparatus in accordance with claim29, structured and arranged to operate without the mobile telephone unitdirectly contacting the apparatus.
 31. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, structured and arranged to operate without the mobile telephoneunit directly contacting the apparatus.